Billion Gallon POET

Cindy Zimmerman

PoetWith the grand opening of POET Biorefining – Corning in Iowa on Friday, POET became only the second company to claim an annual ethanol production capacity of over one billion gallons.

Jeff Broin, CEO of POET, said, “We’ve come a long way since we started with a one million gallon facility 20 years ago, but what really motivates us is the impact that producing one billion gallons of ethanol has on some of the most pressing issues of our day. It stimulates the economy, it improves the environment. And it actually makes our country a more secure place by reducing our need for foreign oil.”

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) attended the grand opening in Corning, along with Congressman Steve King of Iowa, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and ethanol industry representatives Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association and Ron Lamberty from the American Coalition for Ethanol.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Bobby Rahal Speech at National Press Club

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubI think Bobby Rahal was a big hit today at the National Press Club. There were a lot of other people from the ethanol industry on the head table but none of them got to speak or answer questions. Everyone was just excited to listen to this great competitor.

Near the end of the hour session we did get to hear from IRL CEO Tony George and I’ll have an interview with him for you later. In the meantime I thought you might want to listen to the whole press conference which includes Bobby’s speech and the Q&A session.

The way they work this is that people write out questions for the speaker and the moderator then poses them to the speaker after their speech. So here you go.

You can listen to the entire event here: Listen To MP3 Bobby Rahal National Press Club (50 min MP3)

Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, International, News, Racing

Green Racing By Bobby Rahal

Chuck Zimmerman

Bobby Rahal at National Press ClubFor the first time ever an Indianapolis 500 winner spoke at the National Press Club today. Bobby Rahal was the featured speaker at today’s luncheon with the press. His topic was the “The Greening of Racing: Ethanol Powers the Indianapolis 500.″

He was a winner again today as he spoke and answered questions for about an hour in front of a packed room. I think all the tables were sold out.

Bobby said that he is proud of what the Indy Racing League has done to move to an environmentally friendly fuel because it means they’re focused on more than just entertainment and on what matters and is important to people in their everyday lives here in our country.

You can listen to an excerpt of his speech here: Listen To MP3 Bobby Rahal (3 min MP3)

I’ve created an online photo album from the event you are welcome to visit: Bobby Rahal at National Press Club Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Thune Calls for Extension of Wind Power Incentive

John Davis

Sen. John ThuneSenator John Thune (R-South Dakota) is asking Congress to extend the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit, which will expire next year, through 2012. The incentive is a two-cent-per-kWh tax credit for renewable electricity production. This story on the Black Hills Today web site, says the credit makes wind energy more competitive:

“As our nation’s energy demands continue to grow at record speed, our dangerous dependence on foreign sources of energy puts America in a more vulnerable position than ever,” Thune said. “To avoid a looming energy crisis, we need to explore every possible source of renewable, home-harnessed energy, such as wind power—an under-utilized resource that has the potential to provide cost-effective energy to millions of Americans.”

Thune is so interested in wind power because of the potentail it holds for his state. The article goes on to say that researchers estimate South Dakota is capable of producing 566 GW of electrical power from wind… more than half of the entire country’s demand. Right now, though, the state produces only 44 megawatts… far behind its neighbors Minnesota and Iowa, which produce 895 MW and 936 MW, respectively.

Government, Wind

NBB Before Congress

John Davis

Joe Jobe before CongressMembers of the National Biodiesel Board have testified before Congress about how biodiesel has benefitted America. According to an NBB press release, the board’s Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business in a hearing entitled “The Impact of Renewable Energy Production in Rural America.”

“If you take one thing away from my testimony today, I hope it is that biodiesel delivers,” Jobe said. “The biodiesel tax credit is a shining star in the universe of public policy.”

To prove his point, Jobe presented a survey that shows how supportive the American public is of the tax credits lawmakers have granted the industry:

Results of our recent survey of American consumers show that almost half (46%) are aware of biodiesel, while just 16% are aware of renewable diesel. This may partially explain why a very large majority (77%) believe the tax credit for biodiesel is a good decision but, after a series of questions, just 17% believe big oil companies should receive similar taxpayer support for a product called renewable diesel, even if it helps lead to energy independence.

Jobe also told representatives that the biodiesel industry produced just 25 million gallons a year in 2004. Today, after the biodiesel incentive has boosted the industry, there are 105 plants capable of producing 864 million gallons of biodiesel. In addition, biodiesel has added at least 40,000 new jobs and will add $24 billion to the U.S. economy. Farmers are also enjoying the benefits of the credit. Soybean prices have gone up $.42 a bushel since the incentive took effect.

Jobe urged lawmakers to extend the biodiesel incentive past its 2008 expiration date while cutting off big oil from abusing the credit.

Biodiesel, Government

Another POET Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

PoetPOET has announced plans for another new ethanol plant.

The company has selected a site near North Manchester for it’s third ethanol production facility in the state of Indiana.

Jeff Broin, President & CEO of POET, said, “North Manchester is in the heart of Indiana’s Corn Belt and provides an excellent location for an ethanol plant. We are honored that the community has been so welcoming and pleased with the cooperation we’ve received from local officials. A foundation has been built for a lasting partnership between North Manchester and POET.”

POET’s 20th ethanol facility will open tomorrow in Corning, Iowa and they currently have seven more plants under construction.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Committee Passes Energy Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved energy legislation that calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels use by 2022. The bill also provides the necessary incentives to spur the development of commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production.

The bill received bi-partisan support in the committee, with eight Republicans and 12 Democrats voting in favor of passage. Three Republicans opposed the measure.

In addition to increasing renewable fuels production, the legislation includes loan guarantees and other incentives for ethanol research and plant construction, support for production of “plug-in” gas-electric hybrids and requirements for more efficient appliances and light bulbs.

An overall goal would be established of reducing gasoline use by as much as 45 percent below what it otherwise is expected to be in 2030.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol, Government, News, Production

Ethanol Helps Rural America

Cindy Zimmerman

RFAThe U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business held a hearing Thursday on the impact of renewable energy production on rural America.

Among those who testified was Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen, who told the committee that ethanol production is providing a dramatic economic stimulus in rural America.

“The production of ethanol has sparked new capital investment and economic development in rural communities across America,” said Dinneen. “Farmer-owned ethanol plants account for half of the U.S. fuel ethanol plants and almost 40 percent of industry capacity. In fact, the National Farmers Union recently released the findings of a study they commissioned by the University of Missouri on the concentration of agricultural markets. The study showed an increased concentration in every industry except ethanol production. The study also found that ethanol production is the only agricultural sector in which concentration has steadily decreased.”

Dinneen added that, ccording to RFA’s analysis, a 100 million gallon ethanol facility will generate $406 million for the local economy and increase the size of the state economy by $223 million.

Ethanol, Government, News

Press Meets Greening of Racing

Cindy Zimmerman

NPC“The Greening of Racing: Ethanol Powers the Indianapolis 500″ will be the topic at the National Press Club on Friday when racing legend Bobby Rahal and Tony George, CEO and founder of the Indy Racing League, will be the featured guests at the distinguished luncheon speaker series.

The IndyCar® Series — a racing series that features one of the premier sporting events in the world, the Indianapolis 500 — has ushered in a new era in motorsports with its use of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol. The decision to switch to ethanol follows in the IndyCar Series long history and tradition of race-bred technological and safety innovations. Many of these innovations are incorporated into passenger vehicle designs. In 1911, the first rearview mirror was used in the Indianapolis 500 as an aid to driver safety. Now the series is at the forefront of “the Greening of Racing” as the first in motorsports to embrace a renewable fuel source.

The 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for May 27, 2007.

Domestic Fuel will be covering the National Press Club event.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Kansas Town Goes for Biodiesel Infrastructure Grant

John Davis

Officials in Emporia, Kansas are applying for a $750,000 state grant to help them put in the infrastructure the town will need for a new biodiesel plant set to open in just more than a year.

Renewable Energy GroupAs I told you in an April 15th post, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group has plans of opening a 60-million-gallon-a-year plant. The Emporia (KS) Gazette reports the grant would build a road and utilities to support the refinery:

City commissioners voted Wednesday to request the money from the Community Development Block Grant fund, a program of the Kansas Department of Commerce. The money would be used for a road, sewer line, stormwater system and water line.

The plant will also need a gas line that Assistant City Manager Mark McAnarney estimated at $700,000 to $800,000. The city will put up the up-front costs on the line, but a portion of it will be repaid by the biodiesel company.

Construction on the plant is to begin this summer.

Biodiesel